What are the latest works/efforts you want people to know about?
I finished my most recent book Dragstripping at the end of 2024 – that was my eighth book. I’m working on a new book of poems but I don’t have a name for it yet. I write about the same things as many writers do. In this case I’m writing more about the West. I was out there and love the mountains almost as much as I love steel mills. So I’m doing something to join those two.
How did growing up in Pittsburgh inspire you as a writer?
I love Pittsburgh – I grew up here and still live here. My dad was a steelworker and union guy – Southside Works. I’ve written poems about him. I loved seeing the steel mills and the fire in the mills – I thought that was beautiful. I know the cost of that. But Pittsburgh helped build this country and we don’t get enough credit for that.
When I see the mansions on Fifth Avenue I tell friends those are the robber barons. We don’t have much love for the Carnegies like some do,
I started writing when I was six – I always did it. I was adopted and didn’t know my name until my 3os so writing was a way to work through that. Luckily I had a cool dad.
Are there poets or artists that have been the biggest inspiration or even mentors for you?
Writing was like a lifeline for me. I didn’t have any mentors early on – my writing was done in a locked diary. There were people around me who inspired me – just to be alive. I learned a lot about writing later on in life. In school I was failing English – I evidently had an attitude problem. I didn’t like the older poets and writers then – I wasn’t a fan. I found more contemporary writers and learned from them – they made more sense to me.
When did you know this was more than a passion – that this was going to be more for you?
I always knew writing was the thing for me – I liked phys-ed – I liked to hit things! I went into journalism then nursing then became a social worker – but I was bad at that. I cried all the time. It took me 20 years to get back to writing. I waitressed for a while before I went back to writing. I gave up on it as the central means of success. I tell students now – don’t listen to anyone – do what you’re drawn to do.
As a teacher – how do you teach poetry when it’s such a personal, emotional art form?
You have them focus on the craft – it’s about getting the emotions out of the person. It’s not about the story – you’re teaching them about line breaks, metaphors, that kind of stuff. When a student starts they want to write about pretty things about life and that’s great. But I used to tell students that if their friends tell you they like your poems, you need new friends. They are lying to you! You need to be tough on your poems – it takes a long time. It’s a discipline.
What were the main themes you focused on early on and how has that changed as you got older and developed your voice?
My first book Mad River – those were short poems and mostly first-person narratives. The form and subjects change- now I’m spread out more and have allowed myself to go deeper and more complicated. Dragstripping was less linear and my new book has more mystery to it. But not too much – I believe in clarity in writing – you need a way in for readers.
As for of your focus is on the empowerment of women and women’s writing – how do you work on that in your writing and career?
I work one-on-one on private manuscripts at times. At the Desert Night Conference in Tempe it’s mostly women but I work with guys too. I ask students questions – what are they trying to do? And why? It can be upsetting but it’s real. These amazing, intelligent women often don’t have enough confidence – they are afraid to say some things. That’s often due to cultural misogyny, abuse….I understand what they have gone through. It took me years to get here. So I try to push them to take risks – to write what they have never told anyone. They don’t have to share it – but to just get it out of them. It’s not a confession – it’s just ab out seeing what comes out of it. It’s about purging that stuff. People need room to talk and be themselves somewhere. Especially women. I’m rabid about this subject and that helps me I think as a teacher – they can see how I feel.
What do you love about the teaching process most and where are you teaching now?
It teaches me a lot about people. It always surprises me what people say – I’m often stunned and humbled by the courage of people.
When I ran the Mad Women in the Attic at Carlow College, I had one student that wrote four books when she was in her 80s. We were workshopping one and I told her to take the word Jesus out of one line, and she said “I don’t think you like Jesus!” That wasn’t it – it was just not working in that line. It didn’t fit in the poem. It’s just funny sometimes what happens in those conversations.
I got to one class right as it started – at 10:30. The students were all looking at their watches – they were upset. “You can’t come in when the class has just started!” One time I missed a class – I thought I had heart issue and was upset. When I came back they got mad at me when I told them why. “That’s nothing!” They pointed to one woman in the class who had cancer and another who needed oxygen. I just said “OK! I get it!”
Is there a goal to grow the love of poetry – to increase awareness and appreciation for the writing form? If so, how?
Sure – I wouldn’t know how. The only thing I can do is write and talk about it. My editor and teacher at the University of Pittsburgh told me that I could be the most famous poet in the world and no one would know who I was. You don’t get into it for notoriety – you do it because you are driven to do it.
I understand you’re a big Steelers fan as well – any good memories or experiences watching the team/any involvement?
I was able to go to the Seattle Super Bowl – that was really exciting. My husband and I and friends drove there in a Winnebago and stayed in it.
I try and coordinate my readings around Steelers games – there are a lot of Steelers bars all over the world. I had a friend Iris who I didn’t know well and was meeting once in San Francisco. She picked a place for dinner and I realized the Steelers were playing on Monday Night Football – it was 5:00 – 8:00 Pittsburgh time. I called her and told her that I couldn’t go out – there was a Steelers game that night. She laughed and told me her husband was from Grove City. So we ended up going to a Steelers bar for dinner! I was there standing on a bench screaming – I figured she’d either like me or not!
I get into a lot of close-calls-fights at bars if I’m not careful. In Manhattan I went to a Steelers bar when we were playing the Bengals. A guy in a Bengals hate said something to me and I took his hat and threw it on the floor. I shouldn’t have done that – my friend rushed me out the door then!
My birth father was a former Stanley Cup winning hockey player – Bill Eznicki. I went to the Hockey Hall of Fame ands saw his name on the Stanley Cup. He was known to be one of the best body-checkers of his time. That explains my love for hitting things!
You managed to do what few could – turn poetry into a career. Any advice for those looking to do the same?
I don’t use the word career – I don’t like it. I tell people if they are really driven to do it. You do it because you love it – not to make money. It’s an art – what do you expect? If you’re driven though it means something to you – it’s something you need to do.
You just have to be motivated. And you can still teach. There’s always a way. Don’t put roadblocks in front of yourself, and don’t accept the roadblocks others out in front of you. No one has a right to decide what you do for you.